Fuel injector



Jan. 10, 1939. M, CHANDLER 2,143,052

FUEL INJECTOR Filed March 6, 1936 4 Sheqts-Sheet 1 @j 36 L J05 .51

Jan. 10, 1939. M. G. CHANDLER 2,143,052

v FUEL INJECTOR Filed MarCh 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL INJECTOR.

Milford G. Chandler, Flint, Mich.

Application March 6, 1936, Serial No. 67,486

- 22 Claims. (01. 123-139) This invention relates to liquid injecting apthe parts in a. more advanced position from that paratus that is especially useful in lubricating shown in Fig. 6; devices and in fuel injecting mechanism for in- Fig. 8 is a view similar to that in Fig. 7 but ternal combustion engines and the like. showing the parts in a further advanced position;

One of the objects of the invention is the pro- 9 18 a Perspective V ew 01 the distributor vision of a new and improved liquid injector member; having novel means for metering and delivering 10 is a perspective View Of the driving liquid charges of oil, fuel and the like. member Another object of the invention is the pro- 11 is a Perspective View of Portion of the 10 vision of a new and improved fuel injector of control mechanism with parts in section for 10 the plate type having novel means for preventing more clearly disclosing the device;

undue and unequal wear on the moving parts of g? 12 is a perspective View of the cutofi the metering mechanism.

. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the driving pin;

g ad i 62$: g: Fig, 14 is a vertical section of the control 15 Z m1 0 i g mechanism with parts broken away and showema com us on eng n6 g new an ing the parts in the same position as that shown proved metering mechanism provided with novel in Fig and means for actuating said mechanism whereby Fig 15 i a diagram showing the path of move liq d fuel will be caused to flow through a ment of one of the distributor discharge ports. 20

mon reservoir and be discharged through outlet For convenience of illustration and descrippassages, each served by m r than ne plunger. tion, the device is disclosed and will be described Another object of the invention is the pmas being employed as a fuel injector for an invision of a new and improved fuel injector havternal combustion engine. While the device will ing metering mechanism provided with novel be described as a fuel injector, it is understood 25 means for preventing leakage of the fuel during that it may be used as a liquid distributor in other the operation of the device. relations, as for instance, it may be employed as A still further object of the invention is the 8-1 0 injector in lubricating d ces. provision of a new and improved liquid injector Liquid fuel injectors for internal combustion that is simple in construction, inexpensive t engines asv heretofore constructed have either 30 manufacture, easily assembled, efficient in operabeen unsatisfactory in their Operations, have on, may be readily and easily adjusted meet required such accuracy or precision in the conall requirements, is composed of few moving part struction of certain parts of the distributor and that is not likely to become broken or get out mechanism that the cost of w manufacture of omen practically precludes their use in any except the 35 Other and further objects and advantages of very highest priced engines the invention will appear from the following de- The g g to remedy i scription taken in connection with the accomdlmcmt es y e prov slon o compa'm lvey simple, inexpensive injector that has the peculiar gz 35322? an internal characteristics that the parts are so constructed 40 that extreme accuracy is not necessary on longibustlon engine with parts broken away for the tu din a1 dimensions and the Operation of the sake of clearness' woe is such that wear on the distributing mech- 2 is an end elevation thereof with parts anism does not affect the seal but tends to imin section and parts broken away; prove it. 45

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the fuel injection Referring now to the drawings the reference 01111118 0f -f character l0 designates a portion of a vehicle 4 i a Section 011 11 ne 0f 3; comprising an internal combustion engine H of i 5 a Sectlon 011 f of 3; any suita le construction for propelling the ve- 6 S a S t on 011 1 m 6 of 3 ShOW- hicle in the usual manner. This engine may 50 mg t e Cut-Off d s in retarded position; be of the usual or any well-known construction a is a s tion s ar t Fi 6 wi pa s but for the purpose of illustrating the invention, ken way d showing t ut-off disk in it is shown as being an eight cylinder V-type advanced position; motor provided with an intake manifold I2, hav- Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing ing an air intake 20 provided with a conventional 55 'eratedfromthecamshaftfloftheengineby means of a bevel gear il mounted on said shaft. which meshes with a corresponding bevel i8 mounted on the lower end of a shaft it, the upper end of which has a detachable interlocking connection with the driving member 2| of the fuel injector as shown at 22 in Fig. 3 and as will presently appear.

The fuel injector comprises a casing or body portion 26. The casing 23 is secured to the upper wall of the air intake 26 above the air intake manifold I2 in any suitable manner as by cap screws 26 or the like, Fig. 1. The casing has a cylindrical chamber opening upwardly and a closure for the casing comprising a head 26 which is secured to and forms a part of the casing. The head is secured in position in any suitable manner as by means of the bolts or screws 36 as is usual in such constructions.

The head or closure 26 is provided with a plurality of fuel discharge passages 21 therethrough, see Fig. 3. These passages have corresponding ports 26, 26c, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26; and 280, Fig. 15, one port for each cylinder, opens; to the lower surface or face 46 of the head as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings. A fuel intake passage 26 is also provided in the head through which fuel flows from a suitable fuel supply tank li, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, into a reservoir 62 in the central portion of said head. Each of the fuel discharge passages is in communication with its respective cylinder 35 (see Fig. 2) by a tube or conduit 36, which is adapted to deliver charges of fuel into the intake passage 61 of the corresponding cylinder 35in firing order, as will presently appear.

Suitable mechanism is provided for delivering metered charges of liquid fuel to the cylinders 35 of the engine. The construction which is selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention will now be described.

This mechanism comprises a driving member 2i and a distributor member 49. The driving member 2i is rotatably mounted in the cylindrical chamber of the casing 23. This member is provided. on its lower surface, with one element of a clutch member 36 extends. The wall is also provided with an annular bearing member 4i, of any suitable material as bronze or the like, in order to reduce the friction between it and the rotating.

driving member 2i, which may be, and preferably is, of hard material.

The base 64 of the driving member 2i, Fig. 10, is concentric with the driving shaft i6 and is provided with an upwardly extending driving crank 42, which is mounted eccentrically of the base 64 and of the driving shaft is. This driving crank is rigidly mounted on and turns with the driving member 2i.

Surrounding the driving crank 42 is a ring member or annular elevation 43 concentric with the crank and movable therewith. This ring is provided with a cam face 44 on its upper face. The cam face 44 comprises a decline or cam surface 46 on one side of the driving crank 42 and with a corresponding incline or cam surface 46 on the side opposite the decline 46. The depressed or valley portion 41 of the cam is horizontal and the elevated portion 46 between the cam surfaces 46 and 46 is also horizontal. These cam surfaces operate the pump plungers of the distributor member as will presently appear. The driving member 2i is provided opposite the crank 42 with an arcuate upstanding counterweight 46 for counterbalancing the eccentric arrangement of the driving crank 42 and distributor assembly.

Rotatably mounted on the driving crank 42 is a distributor member 46, see Fig. 9. This memher is provided with an axial opening 6i extending longitudinally thereof, which is adapted to receive a bearing bushing 62 (see Fig. 3), which in turn is rotatably mounted on the upper end 66 of the driving crank 42. The opening 6| in the distributor member 46 has its lower portion counterbored as at 63 and extends to a point adjacent to the upper surface of the distributor member 49 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

A plug 54 is inserted in the counterbore between the bearing 52 and the bottom of said bore, Fig. 3. This plug has a reduced portion extending through the opening ii to a point flush with the upper surface of the distributing member and is also provided with a depending projection 66 which extends downward into an opening 66 arranged axially in the upper end of the crank member 42. A driving .pin 5! extends in an axial opening 56 in the plug 64 for rotating the fuel control member 59 with the distributing member 49 as will presently appear.

The distributor member 49 comprises a plate member 62 on its upper portion which is adapted to engage the lower face of the head 26 and is provided on its lower portion with a piston supporting portion or member 63 which is connected to the plate 62, as by the cylindrical connecting portion 64, as is clearly shown in Fig, 9 of the drawings.

In order to save metal and facilitate assembly, the projection 63 is scalloped, each lobe or scallop 60 having a circular opening 65 therethrough, in which the plungers of a series of pump devices are adapted to be secured as will presently appear.

The plate 62 is provided with a series of ports or openings 66, 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66s on its face, Fig. 9, which are arranged in a circle about the openings 5i, and extend through the plate 62. These ports are in communication with recesses 61, Fig. 3, in the lower surface of the plate 62.

Suitable means are provided for withdrawing fuel from the reservoir 32 through the ports in the plate 62 and discharging the same through said ports and through the ports and passages in the head, into the intake passages 67 of the engine cylinders. In the form of the construction selected to illustrateone embodiment of the invention, pumping devices 66 are employed for this purpose.

The number of pumping devices 66 correspond to the number of ports in the plate 62 and these devices are in communication with the recesses 61 respectively. Since these devices are all alike, only one need be described.

As shown, a bushing 69 is inserted in the recess 61 and this -bushing is provided with a bearing 1|, curved in cross section, having an axial passage 12 in communication with the corresponding opening in the distributor plate 62. A cylinder 13, having an upper ball-like end, is mounted in the socket bearing H and extends downwardly therefrom. This cylinder is in permanent communication with the passage 12 and is provided with an annular flange 14, which is adapted to be engaged by a spring 15 for holding the same upwardly against the bearing H so as to form a gasoline tight joint. These springs also press the distributor member upwardly against the face of the head whereby a fuel proof Joint is provided between these two members. The piston 16 for the cylinder is provided on its lower end with a cross head 11, which is adapted to seat in a corresponding opening 65 in one of the seallops 60. The cross head 11 is adapted to be held in assembled relation by' spring pressed pin 18 which is adapted to engage in a lateral opening 19 in the corresponding lobe or scallop 68. The opening 19 is of sufficient size to permit reciprocation of the piston 16. The piston is adapted to be reciprocated by the cams 45 and 46 and the spring I5, which holds the piston on the cams and cam plate during the movement of the distributor member 49. The spherical bearing H, on the bushing 69, willpermit slight angular variation of the cylinder 13 whereby accuracy in the manufacture of the parts is eliminated. This arrangement will permit ready removal of the pumping devices for replacement or repairs.

It will thus be seen that when the distributor member is mounted on the eccentric driving crank 42, the same will revolve with the revolution of this crank.

The upper face of the distributor plate 62 is flat and engages the under fiat face 48 of the head member 26. It is desirable that the relative movement between these two members be such as to insure a gasoline tight joint at all times and in order to do this, it is necessary that the movable member be subjected to a compound movement because, with a single movement, such for instance as a rotational movement, alone, the faces are likely to become worn unevenly in annular grooves, as for instance, the zone containing the ports will wear faster than the adjacent metal and as a result, the fuel would likely not be prevented from flowing along the groove from one port to the adjacent ones. But with a compound movement, or a movement in two or more directions, a lapping action may be obtained which will insure a perfectly smooth face at all times on both members. In the present construction, this lapping action is accomplished by causing the distributor member to rotate while it is revolving. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In the form of the construction shown, an annular member 8| is mounted in the upper end of the casing 23 and is limited in its downward movement by any suitable means as a ring 82, seated in an annular recess in the inner surface of the casing 23. This annular member 8| is slidably mountedwithin the casing and may be removed by first removing the head 26. It is positioned and held from rotation by a pin 50, Fig. 5.

The upper surface of the ring is so constructed that it is flush with the upper surface of the distributor member 48, which is below the top edge of the casing, in the construction shown, and is provided on its lower portion with an inwardly extending flange 88, which is provided with a plurality of teeth 84. The number of teeth 84 will preferably correspond with the number of cylinders of the engine and these teeth are adapted to be engaged by corresponding teeth 85 an the head of the distributor member 49. as clearly shown in Figs. and 9 of the drawings. These teeth may be of any suitable form and contour but are preferably on the segment of a circle whereby they will have a rolling contact with the intermeshing teeth 84 on the ring 8i. Preferably the pitch circle of the teeth is of substantially the same diameter as a circle passing through the center of the ports in the distributor plate'82 whereby a maximum lag will be provided in the movement of that portion of the plate adjacent the engaging teeth at the instant'the distributor member discharges a charge of fuel through the corresponding ports in the distributor plate as will presently appear.

For convenience of manufacture, the teeth 85 are formed by the walls of the recesses 61.

In the operation of the device thus far described, the distributor plate 62 will be revolved in the direction in which the drive shaft I8 is turning and will, at the same time, be rotated about the drive crank 53 in the opposite direction and consequently the cams 45 and 46 and springs 15 will simultaneously operate the oppositely arranged pumping devices. It will also be seen that as the plate 62 rotates and revolves, the ports therein will alternately be connected with the reservoir 32 and with one of the discharge ports in the head 26, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

In Fig. 3, the pumping device 68 at the left of the figure is in communication with the reservoir 32 through the passages 61 and port 86a at this time. The piston for this pumping device is being moved downwardly by the spring 15 for drawing a charge into the passage 61 in rear of the plunger or piston 16. At the right of said figure, the ports 28d and 66d are in alinement and at this instant, the cam is forcing the piston 16 upwardly, forcing the fuel through the alined ports and the passage 21, into the intake of the appro priate cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

Appropriate means are provided for controlling the amount of fuel that may be sucked into the cylinder of the pumping device for each charge. This mechanism will now be described.

It comprises a cut-off element 86 and suitable control mechanism. The cut-off element comprises a disk or plate 81 having a hub 88 extending upwardly therefrom. The hub is provided with an axial opening for receiving a pin 89 on which the cut-off element is caused to rotate by the driving pin 51 and-on which it may be rotatably adjusted, as will presently appear. The plate 81 has a segment 9| removed to form a port 80 as shown more clearly in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 12 of the drawings. The disk is also provided with an arcuate slot 92 through which the driving pin 51 is adapted to extend. This slot permits the adjustment of the disk for varying the amount of fuel flowing into the pumping device.

The adjustment of the cut-ofi element is effected by means of the control mechanism 84 which comprises a spool or body portion 85, Fig. 11, having an axial opening 96 and provided with an annular groove 91 extending about its intermediate portion. The lower portion of the spool 85 is provided with a plurality of vertical openings 80 through which the fuel may pass from the receptacle 82 to the space below said spool. It is also provided with a radial keyhole slot 88 which is adapted to receive a corresponding head 88 on the upper end of the driving pin 51, which will cause the spool, and with it the plate 88, to revolve with the distributor member about the axis of the drive shaft. The bore or opening 88 in the spool is provided with a pair of cams or segmental threads iill and I02 which are adapted to be engaged by corresponding cams or segmental threads I88 and HM on the hub 88 whereby when the spool is raised or lowered, the cooperating cams will cause a partial rotation of the plate 81 in one or the other direction depending upon whether the spool is moved upward or downward. When the spool is in one extreme position, the ports in the distributor plate, asthey pass across the port 88, will be in communication with the reservoir 82 a maximum length of time and will therefore receive a full charge of gasoline but when in the other extreme position, a minimum charge will be received by these ports. These adjustments are indicated in Figs. 6 and 8a in which the ports are in the same relative position except the cut-off disk or element 88 is shown advanced in Fig. 64. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 6a that as the distributor plate 82 rotates clockwise in its operation, the path of the succeeding port 68b will cut across only a small segment of the port 90 and for only a portion of this movementwill the corresponding piston be engaging the decline 45 of the cam whereby a minimum of fuel will be received by port 88b and succeeding ports. The spool is at its lowermost position in Figs. 3 and 6 and is at its maximum elevation in Figs. 6a and 14. By adjusting the spool up or down the cut-off of the fuel may be adiusted to give the-charge desired. The spool is adapted to be raised and lowered by a lever I08 which is bifurcated and provided with a pivoted block I08, which in turn is adapted to engage in the annular groove 81 in said spool.

The lever III has a bearing I81 which is journalled in an opening i 08 in the head 28. In order that the variation in the amount of the charge and the amount of air supplied may be simultaneously controlled, the lever I05 and the lever arm I88 of the throttle l8 are connected in any suitable manner. In the construction shown, which is for illustrative purposes only, a link H0 is employed for this purpose. Other types of linkage or connecting means may be employed as desired or as occasion may require.

A pair of set screws I28 and I88 may be provided for adiustably limiting the rocking movement of the bearing I81.

In order that the plate 81 shall be properly held in its lowered position, a spring III is inserted between the upper end of the hub 88 and the head H2 of the pin 88.

If desired, the intake passage 29 may be eniarged as at H8 and a filter Ill for the fuel inserted therein as shown more cleary in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In order that there shall be greater uniformity in the operation of the engine cylinders, it is highly desirable that each cylinder be served by a plurality of pumping devices. Such an operation is obtained by the present construction. This arrangement is capable of wide variation.

For instance, if the number of teeth in the ring ll be the same as the number of cylinders and be represented by n, and if the number of teeth on the distributor plate be the same as the number of pumping devices and be reprea,14s,osa

sented by P. then in order to complete a cycle of operation, the distributor plate must revolve pumping devices during each cycle of operation. Consequently, if L=n 9. then each cylinder will be served by all of the pumping devices during each cycle of operation.

In the present construction, the least common multiple (L) of 8 and 6 (n and p) is 24. Consequently each cylinder will be served'by 24+8=3 different pumping devices and each pumping device will serve 24+8=4 different cylinders during each cycle of operation. I

The operation of the complete device may be briefly described as follows:-

The rotation of the power shaft II will revolve the crank 82 and with it the distributor mechanism 48. This mechanism will simultaneously be rotated onthe crank so that the ports in the plate 62 will alternately aline with the ports in the head and with the port leading to the reservoir 82. The port 88 will be rotated by the threads or cams IOI and I82 once during each revolution in the same direction as the revolution of the distributor member whereby, as the ports 66, 68a, 88b, 88c, 88d and lie of the distributor plate are shifted inwardly by the eccentric movement of the crank 82, they will be caused to aline with the port 88.

Assuming now that the ports are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the plunger I8 at the left of Fig. 3 is moving down about midway the cam 85 and is withdrawing a charge of fuel through the port 88 and port 884, which is in alinement with the port 88 as shown in Fig. 6. Fuel will continue to flow through the port 66a so long as it is unmasked by the plate 86; that'is so long as it is in alinement with the port 80. The amount of the charge is controlled by the plate 86. The flow of fuel is cut off by this plate which may be adjusted in position by the accelerator in the usual manner. The plate 88 may be advanced or retarded for controlling the amount of the charge which is sucked into the cylinder of the plunger and in the passage 81 above the plunger. Simultaneously with the sucking of fuel in through the port 88a, the piston or plunger 18 at the right of Fig. 3 is moving up the incline of the cam 48, the same being held against the incline by the spring II and is discharging its charge through the alined ports 66d and 28d. The fuel charge, which is being sucked into the cylinder 18 of the plunger 18 at the left of Fig. 3, will likewise be discharged by the cam 48 when the port 88a is turned into alinement with a discharge port in the head.

The parts are so constructed that at the time the fuel is being delivered by the plunger 18 through the alined ports 28d and 88d, the port 86d is adjacent to the teeth 88. In other words, the crank 42 has shifted the distributor plate to its maximum distance radially outward to cause the port 88d in the distributor plate to aline with one of the ports in the head and at this time the port 084 is moving at a minimum of velocity. Since the port 66d is substantially on the pitch circle of the teeth of the distributor plate, the plate may be considered as pivoting about the ports 28d and 66d when the same aline. This arrangement is considered an important feature of the invention because it affords ample time for the discharge of the fuel without the provision of an elongated port.

By referring to Fig. 15, which shows a figure disclosing the path described by one of the ports of the distributor plate 62, it. will be seen that each of these ports describes a looped path H5, each of the loops H6 indicating the travel of the port 66d while fuel is being discharged. The distance traveled in equal intervals of time by the port 66d of the distributor plate is indicated by the small circles 66d on Fig. 15. Each of the remaining ports-of the distributor head describes a similar path.

From an inspection of Figs. 6, 8 and 15, it will be seen that the angular movement of the ports in the distributor plate, while they are in delivery position, are very much smaller than the angular movement of those ports of the distributor plate during the same interval of time while the charge is being sucked into the pumping device.

The lengths of the passages from the reservoir 32. to the cylinders of. the pumping devices are preferably all of the same length and are extremely short. Thisis also considered an important feature because it insures a uniform charge for each of the pumping devices. If some of the passages were short and some of extended length, the charges would not be uniform because of the inertia of a longer column of fuel and also because of the greater amount of vaporization of the fuel in the longer tube which might relieve the vacuum on the suction stroke.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the lower face of the head 26 is of such diameter that the face plate 62 will overlap or extend radially outwardly beyond the head face at the points where fuel is being delivered. As a result of this arrangement, a maximum amount of pressure is applied to the portion of the ditributor plate where the fuel is being discharged. Since the movement at this point is at its minimum, this arrangement does not result in objectionable or excessive wear of the moving parts. It does have, however, a decided advantage in preventing leakage of the fuel while it is being delivered. This arrangement is possible by the fact that a wide recess I40, extending around the face 40 of the head 26, is provided as shown in Fig. 3. This face may be scalloped to further increase the pressure on the exposed face and at the same time afford a Wide bearing surface around each of the discharge ports.

It will thus be seen that a liquid injector has been provided in which a single cam is employed for operating a plurality of pumping devices, each of which serves a plurality of engine cylinders. It will also be noted that the compound movement of the distributor member not only permits a relatively slow movement of the discharge port while it is delivering fuel but that the engaging faces are continually lap-ground during the operation of the device, thus insuring against leakage of gasoline from one port to the other.

Furthermore, the variable cut-E mechanism is so arranged that when the port 90 of the variable cut-ofi disk 81 is in alinement with any of the intake ports in the distributor plate 62, the

pressure of the fuel and the suction of the corresponding device will tend to firmly seat the cutoff disk on the distributor plate to prevent leakage around the cut-off disk and when the ports in the distributor plate are turned beyond the cut-off plate, the face of the head will effectively close these fuel ports and prevent leakage. In other words, at no time in the operation of the device is there any force tending to unseat the cut-off valve because the pressure on this plate is always in the opposite direction.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a. fuel feeding mechanism, a casing having a surface provided with intake and discharge ports therein, a distributor member movably mounted in said casing and engaging said surface, means including a plurality of reciprocating members controlled by the movement of said member for drawing fuel into said casing through certain of said ports and for discharging the same therefrom in predetermined charges through certain of other of said ports, control means for varying the amounts of said charges, and meansfor imparting a compound movement to said distributor member.

2. In a liquid injector device, a casing, an in-- take passage and a plurality of discharge passages for said casing, distributing mechanism including a planetary member, means for imparting a planetary movement to said member, and means for asperating 'iquid throughsaid intake passage into said distributor and for discharging the same therefrom in metered charges through each of said discharge passages.

3. In a fuel feeding device, a casing, a head for said casing, a plurality of passages through said head, a distributor member having a plurality of passages therethrough, the number of passages through said head being greater than the number through said distributor member, means for imparting a compound movement to said member including a movement eccentrically of said head for causing each of the passages of said member to aline with the passages of said head in a predetermined order, and means for drawing fuel into said casing and for discharging the same through the passages in said head.

4. In a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a casing including a closure, a passage through said casing for each cylinder ofv said engine, means including a plurality of injector devices for discharging fuel through said passages, and means for causing each passage to be served by a plurality of said injector devices in a predetermined order.

5. In a fuel injector, a casing having a head having a raised smooth area provided with an intake and a plurality of discharge fuel passages, a distributor member movable over said area and having a plurality of fuel ports therein, resilient means for pressing said member against said smooth area, pumping means carried by said member, means for moving said distributor member to one position for receiving fuel and to another for discharging the same, said distributor in said last position having a portion extending outwardly beyond said area adjacent to the port through which fuel is discharged whereby added pressure is applied to said member adjacent the port while it is discharging due to constant force of said resilient means on a reduced area.

6. In a distributor mechanism for a fuel injector, a distributor plate member, a recess in said member, a cylinder having a head seated in said recess for forming a ball and socket-like joint, a piston for said cylinder, a cam for operating said piston, resilient means for seating said cylinder in said recess and for yieldingly forcing said piston outwardly for engaging said cam, said cylinder and member having communicating passages, and means including said piston for sucking fuel into said cylinder and for discharging the same through said passages.

7. In a fuel injector for a multi-cylinder engine, a casing, a head for said casing having a plane surface provided with a plurality of discharge ports on its under surface and an intake port for said head, a distributor plate having fuel passages, means for causing said passages to be alined in a predetermined order with first the intake port of the casing and then with a discharge port, a pumping device for each of said fuel passages, and a variable cut-off disk for cutting-off the supply of fuel to each of said fuel passages in a predetermined order, the pressure of fuel on said plate being in a direction to continuously seat such plate during the operation of said injector, each passage being closed by the face of said head between the time-of its intake and discharge.

8. In a fuel injector for use in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a casing, a plurality of fuel discharging devices within said casing, means for supplying fuel to said devices, a plurality of discharge passages for said casing, one for each cylinder, and mechanism for causing said plurality of devices to discharge fuel through each of said discharge passages in a predetercausing said plurality of devices to discharge fuel through each of said discharge passages in a predetermined order, and manually controlled means for regulating the interval during the suction stroke at which the fuel supply is cut off from said discharging devices.

10. In a fuel feeding device, a casing having a wall surface provided with an intake port and a plurality of discharge ports, a pumping and distributing member within said housing having a wall surface in contact with said first mentioned wall surface and provided with cooperating ports adapted to be alined in a predetermined order with the intake and delivery ports of said casing by relative displacement of said wall surfaces, and planetary drive means for said member, whereby compound rotary and sliding motion is imparted to the wall surface of said member with respect to the wall surface of said casing.

11. In a fuel injector for internal combustion engines having a plurality of cylinders, a fuel passage for each cylinder, a plurality of pumping devices for supplying fuel to said cylinders through said passages, means for operating said devices, and mechanism for effecting a relative movement between said pumping devices and said passages for causing each of said cylinders to be served by a plurality of said pumping devices in a predetermined order.

12. In a fuel injector, a casing having a fiat face therein, a distributor member within said casing having a fiat face in engagement with said fiat face in said casing, said member and easing each having a plurality of openings and passages. respectively, means for revolving said member in a predetermined path over the face of said casing and for simultaneously rotating said member for bringing said openings and passages into registration in a predetermined order, and means associated with said member for metering a charge of fuel and discharging the same from said casing during registration of said openings and passages.

13. In a fuel feeding device, a casing, a distributor member mounted within said casing, passages through said member and casing, means for imparting a compound movement to said distributor member relative to said casing for bringing said passages into register in a predetermined order. and means including plungers carried by said member for drawing fuel into said casing and for discharging the same in isolated charges therefrom through said passages during alinement, and a cut-oi! device for controlling the amoimt of fuel for each charge.

14. In a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine having n number of cylinder, a distributor mechanism having p number of pumping devices for supplying fuel to said cylinders said mechanism comprising a casing having a discharge passage for each cylinder for supplying fuel thereto and an intake passage for supplying fuel to said pumping devices, a distributor member having a fuel passage for each pumping device, means for moving said distributor member for causing each fuel passage to describe a path comprising a plurality of connected outwardly turned curves for causing the last-named passage to register first with a discharge passage at the end of the juncture of the curves and then with the intake passage at an intermediate point in each curve, means for operating said pumping devices, and means forshifting said distributor member so that each cylinder will be supplied with fuel by a plurality of said devices, represented by the least common multiple of p and n divided by n.

15. In a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine having n number of cylinders, a casing, a plurality of discharge passages through said casing, one for each cylinder for supplying fuel thereto, an intake passage, a distributor member having a plurality of fuel passages therethrough, p number of pumping devices carried by said member, one for each fuel passage, means for operating said devices, means for moving said member so that each fuel passage will be brought first into register with the intake passage and then into register with one of said discharge passages in such a predetermined order that each cylinder will be supplied by a plurality of said devices with fuel, represented by the least common multiple of p and 11 divided by n.

16. In a fuel projector for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a casing, a fuel reservoir in said casing, a discharge passage for each cylinder extending through said casing, an intake passage in said casing in communication with said reservoir inwardly of said discharge passages, distributor mechanism including a distributor member having fuel passages therethrough and a pumping device for each fuel passage, means for moving said plate so as to cause said fuel passages to aline with said inlet passage and with said discharge passages for supplying fuel to said cylinders in a predetermined order, a ported plate member within said casing for delivering fuel through said intake discharge passage to said devices, and manually controlled means for regulating the interval during the suction stroke at which the fuel supply is cut off the ports in the distributor member.

17. In a fuel injector for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a casing having a plurality of fuel discharge passages, one for each cylinder of said engine, for supplying fuel thereto, said passages being arranged on the circumference of a circle through a plane surface, a distributor member having a plane surface engaging the plane surface of said casing, a plurality of fuel pumping devices carried by said member, a fuel passage for each of said devices, means for rotating said member on its axis and for causing said axis to move in a circular path whereby said fuel passages will first register with said intake passage and then with said discharge passages in apredetermined order, and means for operating said pumping devices in timed relation to the movements of said member.

18. In a fuel injector for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a casing having a plane surface, an intake passage for said casing, a discharge passage through said casing and plane surface for each cylinder of said engine for supplying fuel thereto, said casinghaving internal teeth on its side walls, a power shaft extending axially into said casing and provided with an eccentric journal, a cam surface concentric with the base of said journal, a distributor member rotatably mounted on said journal and having a fiat face engaging the plane surface of said casing, a. plurality of cylinder and plunger pumping devices carried by said member, means on the plungers of said pumping devices for engaging said cam surface for operating said devices, teeth formed by the outer portions of the cylinders of said pumping devices engaging theteeth on said casing whereby when said shaft is rotated said distributor member will be given a. compound movement over the plane surface of said casing for bringing said pumping devices into communication first with said intake passage and then with said discharge passages in a predetermined order for supplying fuel to said engine, and means for resiliently forcing said member toward said plane surface.

19. In a liquid distributing device, a casing having a plurality of discharge passages, arranged in a circle, an intake port arranged inwardly of said discharge passages, a distributor member having a plurality of passages, a pumping device for each last-named passage carried by said member, means for moving each last-named passage alternately into registration with said port and into registration with one of said first-named passages, and means for causing each secondnamed passage to register in succession in a predetermined order with a plurality of said firstnamed passages.

20. In a fuel injector, a casing, a plurality of discharge passages for said casing, a distributor member having fuel passages therethrough, means for moving said member for selectively registering passages in said member and casing in a predetermined order, a fuel reservoir within said casing, a port for said reservoir, a plurality of fuel pumps, one for each fuel passage, said last-named passages being of substantially the same length, said means also moving said lastnamed passages into communication with said port in a predetermined order, and means for metering the charge of fuel supplied to each of said pumps only when said pump, reservoir and corresponding passage are in register during the suction stroke whereby substantially equal charges of fuel may be discharged through said discharge passages from said pumps.

21. In a fuel feeding device, a casing having a flat surface, a distributor member having a flat face engaging said surface and provided with fuel passages therein, a fuel reservoir, an intake fuel port in said casing in communication with said reservoir, discharge ports spaced outwardly from said intake port in said casing, and means for moving the fuel passages of said distributor member into register with said intake fuel port and with said discharge ports in a predetermined order, and pumping means carried by said distributor for withdrawing fuel from said reservoir through said intake passage and for discharging the same through said discharge ports.

22. In a fuel injector, a casing having a plurality of fuel discharge passages and an intake passage, a distributor member having a plurality of fuel ports, means for moving said distributor member so as to cause each of said ports to describe a looped path for causing each of said ports to register with one of said discharge passages when at the looped portion of its path and with said intake passage at an intermediate point, and means for sucking fuel through said intake passage and a port when the same register and for discharging the same through a port and a1 discharge passage when the same is brought into register.

MILFORD G. CHANDLM. 

